Performed by Krisy Dennis
Directed by Bob Garrett. Musical Director Michael Farrell
Running January 4,11, 18, 25 @ 8pm January 5, 12, 19, 26 @ 3pm, February 1 & 8 @ 8pm
The Whitefire Theatre 13500 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks, 91423
A musical solo show is a huge accomplishment.
It’s a hard enough endeavor to go it alone for over an hour, with only yourself for support on stage in a straight performance pieces. But add to that musical numbers and costume changes and pretty vivid depictions of iconic female leaders and you actually have a great description of “Ladies First.”
Dreamed up by Krisy Dennis and Bob Garrett, this lovely show celebrates fourteen of our most fascinating and important female figures from the last century or so. Everyone from Nora Ephron to Emmelline Parkhurst, Katherine Hepburn to Billie Jean King, Rosa parks to Sally Ride, each woman cleverly performed by Ms Dennis and each with a song strategically chosen to emulate her.
It’s a very clever concept and one executed rather well by Ms Dennis, who sings her heart out. I loved the choice of the songs too. Kate Bush, Alecia Key and of course the brilliant Steven Sondheim among many many more. All wonderfully arranged ad performed by Michael Farrell on the piano. This gently paced show feels like a love letter to strong and courageous women who just didn’t take no for an answer. Whether they wanted to play tennis, fly to the moon or simply sit on a bus, each of these women took us all one step closer to equality, freedom and grace and each of them did it without a thought to their own mortality and in some cases to their own immortality.
Being reminded of who came before is always so important. It gives us focus and courage and the will to carry on. It wasn’t so long ago that women couldn’t vote, or have a bank account, or own land or be taken seriously in almost any capacity by men….now more than ever its vital that we own our freedoms and glance backward, lest we step backward.
It’s a lovely show, thoughtful, interesting and charmingly performed, something out of the ordinary and rather special… and don’t we all need that!
It’s running from January 4,11, 18, 25 @ 8pm January 5, 12, 19, 26 @ 3pm, February 1 & 8 @ 8pm
Tickets
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ladies-first-tickets-82834094005?aff=ebdssbdestsearch
- Whitefire Theatre Solofest
- Ladies First”
- Bob Garrett
- Krisy Dennis
